TikTok has been a controversial app for lawmakers across the country, as both Republicans and Democrats have called for its ban in different capacities. Now, Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) is joining an effort which has been called a “bicameral push” to ban all members of Congress from using the app, due to its cybersecurity concerns.
Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Representative Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) joined the effort, urging that the rules of both the House and the Senate be amended, barring federal lawmakers from operating the social media platform.
Sen. Scott and others sent a letter to the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and the Committee on House Administration, citing that members have continued the promotion of the app to its constituents despite receiving warnings from cybersecurity officials.
“It is troublesome that some members continue to disregard these clear warnings and are even encouraging their constituents to use TikTok to interface with their elected representatives – especially since some of these users are minors,” wrote the members in the letter calling for the change.
“We feel this situation warrants further action to protect the privacy of both sensitive congressional information and the personal information of our constituents. To that end, we urge you to enact a change to the Senate and House rules to ban members of Congress from using TikTok for official use.”
The letter would also state that “it is clear from the testimony and comments from TikTok CEO, Shou Zi Chew, that all members of Congress must lead by example and immediately stop using the platform for official communications. As such, we urge you to amend the House and Senate rules to bar members of Congress from continued use of TikTok and take any other appropriate measures to mitigate the risks of this de-facto, spyware app.”
Signees of the letter also include Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Troy Balderson (R-OH), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA), Randy Weber (R-TX), Michael Guest (R-MS), Greg Pence (R-IN), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), John Moolenaar (R-MI), Max Miller (R-OH), Rick W. Allen (R-GA), and Jack Bergman (R-MI).
In late March, Sen. Scott reintroduced a bill looking to cut funds to Chinese-tied schools.
